Bass strap adjuster for accordions



Il IIIII Nov. 19, 1940. c. LLENDEBERG 2,221,980

BASS STRAP ADJUSTER FOR ACCORDIONS Filed oct. 22, 195s l 18 l z5 Z l w Inti I0 Fn (ZI) I A ORNEY,

CFI

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Carl Lindeberg, De Kalb, Ill., assigner to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,375

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the anchoring and adjusting mechanism for the bass strap of an accordion and has for its principal object means for adjustably securing one end of the bass strap therein so as to be housed and enclosed thereby.

It is desirable to secure the two ends of the bass strap inside of the bass section box or housing of the accordion so as to be concealed therein, whereby the ends of the strap and the anchoring and adjusting devices required for securing it will not be exposed on the exterior ends of the box. This permits of smooth streamlining of the box with no protruding mechanism thereon which is objectionable, both as to appearance and in handling.

One feature of the invention resides in the internally mounted mechanism for adjusting one end of the strap, which not only permits of the adjusting mechanism being enclosed within the box, but provides more efficient and convenient adjustment capable of more extensive adjustment than has heretofore been provided.

By means of this arrangement, the anchoring mechanism is completely enclosed with the exception of a small protruding adjusting thumb screw, which is conveniently placed adjacent the strap instead of protruding from the end of the accordion.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through the box with the bass mechanism removed, showing the mounting of the bass strap and adjustable mechanism therein. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken through the adjustable end of the bass strap.

In the drawing there is shown a bass section box which may be of pre-molded Celluloid or similar plastic material, and which is herein termed the housing I 0. Said housing is provided With a pair of elongated slots indicated at II and I2, through which the ends of the bass hand strap I3 extend. The slots II are so arranged adjacent the ends of the housing that the bass strap I3 extends longitudinally, in the usual manner, along the end of the bass section.

One end of the strap I3 is rigidly anchored internally of the housing to a wooden block I4 by means of a metal plate I5 and screws I6, the block I4 being secured to the inner surface of the housing in any suitable manner.

'I'he opposite end of the strap is adjustably mounted internally of the housing. For this purpose there is suitably secured to the inner surface of the housing at the end thereof opposite the block I4 a wooden block I'I on which a metal bracket I8 is secured. 5

The adjustable end of the strap I3 is provided with a metal collar I9 which is U-shaped in form and embraces the end of the leather strap. Secured thereto there is a projecting pin 20.

The metal bracket I8 is adapted to slidably 10 receive the end of the strap, being so formed that the end of the strap with the collar I9 is free to slide longitudinally between a raised plate portion of the bracket and the block I'l. Said plate portion is provided with a longitudinal guide slot 10 2| through which the pin 20 extends to be slidably interlocked in the elongated slot 22 of an arm 23 having one end inturned and pivoted to the bracket at 24.

Said arm extends across the full width of 0 the bracket and strap and is provided at the free end thereof with a threaded nut 25 through the medium of a shaft-like pin 26 rotatably supported in the end of the arm.

Extending through the nut and in threaded engagement therewith there is a take-up screw 2'I having its extreme ends supported by the end bearing flanges 28 formed on the bracket. Said take-up screw 21 is provided on one end with a knurled knob or thumb screw 29 protruding through a suitable aperture in the housing IU adjacent the strap I3.

By manually turning the knob 29 the threaded nut 25 will be caused to travel longitudinally of the screw, carrying with it the free end of the arm 23. The arm 23, in turn, carries with it the free end of the strap i3 through its sliding connection with the pin 20.

By means of this arrangement, a Wide range of adjustability is obtained, while at the same time a very slight or close adjustment may be made. After adjustment through the turning of the knob 29, the mechanism will be locked in position by the frictional screw threaded engagement between the screw and nut.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an accordion having a bass section housing, a bass strap extending longitudinally of one face thereof, said housing being provided with slots adjacent the opposite ends thereof through which the ends of the strap extend, means at one end of said housing and positioned internally thereof for anchoring one end of said strap, a bracket secured internally of said housing at the opposite end thereof, a pivoted arm mounted on 5 said bracket and engaged with the free end of said strap, and means operably connected with said arm for adjusting the position thereof to move said strap to adjusted position,

2. In an accordion having a bass section housing, a bass strap extending externally and longitudinally of one face thereof, means thereon for securing the ends of said strap internally of said housing adjacent opposite ends thereof, one of said means comprising a threaded screw extending parallel to and to one side of said strap supported for rotation internally of the housing, external means for rotating said screw, a traveller in threaded engagement with said screw, an arm having one end pivoted to said housing and its free end pivoted to said traveller, and means for connecting said arm with one end of said strap,

whereby rotation of said screw will move said strap relative to said housing for adjusting the position thereof.

3. An adjusting member for an accordion bass strap, comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the accordion for receiving one end of said strap, a threaded screw rotatably supported by said bracket to one side of said strap, an arm pivotally mounted to said bracket and extending across the face of said strap, a traveller in threaded `engagement with said screw pivotally connected with the other end of said arm, and a sliding connection between said strap and arm, whereby said strap may be adjusted through rotation of said screw.

- CARL LINDEBERG. 

